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The above is a table of the possible scenarios which can happen in the IPL 2009 as of now. Overall there are 12 different possibilities. We have listed the points that each of these four teams - Bangalore Royal Challengers, Deccan Chargers, King’s XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals will have at the end of the league phase of the IPL under each of these cases. In the last column we have given the initials of the two teams that will reach the semi-finals under each one of these circumstances.

On the basis of this analysis, we have arrived at the following conclusion:

If you are not sure, as to why Chennai are definitely in, read this blog post. 

Our Semi-Final Prediction:

1st Semi Final: Delhi Daredevils vs Chennai Super Kings

2nd Semi Final: Deccan Chargers vs Kings’ XI Punjab

Global news and media bigwigs such as Reuters and AP have decided to cover the IPL T20 tournament starting in South Africa from 18th April after the governing body of the Indian Premier League (IPl) relented to their demands and withdrew the objectionable clause.

In their clause, IPL had earlier stipulated that news agencies and journalists who would be covering the prestigious cricket tournament would not be able to distribute their news articles and photographs to cricket portals and websites. IPL wanted to monopolize the online audience for IPL news and pictures, something that was validly objected to by the global media. It is surprising that the IPL which did the same thing last year before reversing it decided to repeat their behaviour in 2009. But it’s anyways good that everything has been amicably settled and cricket fans would freely and easily get their IPL fix from wherever they choose to.

Two of India’s biggest personalities, one each from India’s two most popular fields - Bollywood and Cricket, came to loggerheads today. After former India skipper and cricket player, Sunil Gavaskar hit out at the “multiple captains” theory being mulled over by the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders coach John Buchanan, team owner Shahrukh Khan came to the rescue of his beleagured coach.

While Gavaskar, with over 10000 runs in test cricket, was well within his rights to express his views on the newly fangled multiple captain theory he may have crossed the line while hitting Buchanan below the belt. He accussed the former Australia coach of giving plum assignments with the Kolkata Knight Riders Team to many of his Queensland friends and relatives, including one job to his son Michael Buchanan. Gavaskar remarked that John Buchanan was taking the owners of the IPL team for a ride. Bollywood Star Shahrukh Khan is one of the co-owners of this IPL team alongwith Juhi Chawla and her husband Jai Mehta.

Sunny’s intentions may have been noble and perhaps he was trying to caution Shahrukh Khan but SRK really had no other option but to come out and defend his coach with the 2nd edition of the IPL Twenty20 Championship scheduled to begin in less than two weeks time. SRK lauded Gavaskar’s accomplishments in the field of cricket before lashing out at the former India opener for trying to meddle in the affairs of his team. SRK said that Gavaskar had never played a T20 match himself, and this format of the game called for the implementation of new ideas. The bollywood star went on to say that if Sunny wanted to implemented his ideas, he should have thought of buying a team himself - reaffirming who was the boss, as far as the Kolkata Knight Riders were concerned.

Live Cricket Update of the 2nd Test between India and New Zealand at Napier. Match Dates: 26th to 30th March 2009.

Score at the end of day 3:

New Zealand 1st Innings: 619/9 ( Jesse Ryder 201, Ross Taylor 151, Brendon McCullum 115, Ishant Sharma 3 for 95), India 1st Innings: 305 all out ( Rahul Dravid 83, VVS Laxman 76, Chris Martin 3 for 89), India 2nd Innings: 47 for1 ( Jeetan Patel 1 for 14)

After dismissing India for 305, New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, contrary to recent trends forced India to follow on on th 3rd evening. Though the decision may be taxing on the Kiwi bowlers and the fielders, it puts the home team in the best chance to win the test. Now India have a more than challenging task ahead of them. Batting out on the fourth day won’t be enough. Gambhir, Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman will have to ensure that at least 3 of them play a seriously long innings, with at least 1 of them surviving into the final day of the test. It looks like an arduous task but in Dravid and Laxman India have two masters adept at this game. Vettori would do well to not forget that epic test in Kolkata between India and Australia when the Indian duo brought the Aussies to their knees after being made to follow-on. The two are the second most prolific fifth wicket partners for nothing. And we can expect a great two days of test cricket ahead of us.

Live Telecast of the India vs New Zealand Test Series on Set Max, Schedule: 3:30 am onwards IST

West Indies coach John Dyson seriously embarassed himself by making a huge blunder today - the West Indies coach’s blunder in miscalculating the target score based on the Duckworth Lewis system meant England won the 1st One Day at Guyana by 1 run.  As per the Duckworth Lewis method of calculation, the par score at the point in time when Dyson called the West Indies batsmen back was 245. Unfortunately West Indies were one short at 244!

What happens is that the Duckworth Lewis system is very sensitive to the fall of wickets. West Indies lost a wicket just moment before the end of play, and that caused the target score to be revised upwards. Johh Dyson was apparenty basing his calculation on the basis of 6 wickets lost - the time the rain began. However the additional wicket changed that calculation and Dyson made a fool of himself in front of everyone.

Millions of cricket fans watching the match live on TV could clearly see John Dyson frantically waving to his batsmen to come back to the pavillion, confident his team was ahead. As he and the rest of the West Indies soon found out to their acute embarassment, that was not the case.

There was some confusion at the end with the West Indies management trying to make some point - finally the match referee Javagal Srinath had to intervene to clarify to them that England had won the match by 1 run.

India vs New Zealand, You can watch Live Cricket on the channel Set Max, 1st Test - Hamilton, Scheduled start of Live Telecast on day 3: 330 am India Time.

Scores so far:

New Zealand: 279 all out ( Daniel Vettori 118, Jesse Ryder: 102, Ishant Sharma: 4 for 73, Munaf: 3 for 60)

India: 278 for4 (Tendulkar: 70 batting, Dravid: 66, Gambhir: 72, Chris Martin: 2 for 30)

Though India’s score would suggest that the wicket has eased out that is not exactly the case. Rahul Dravid said yesterday evening that it was not the easiest wicket, with the ball doing quite a bit and he had to be careful all the time. The trick is to bowl a fuller length - whenever the ball has been pitched up, it looked like there was a chance. If New Zealand can bowl a better length on the morning of day 3, they can still get New Zealand back into the match. But Tendulkar is still around…

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